Startup Applications List
Unfortunately, due to a change in my circumstances, the startup programs database here at Sysinfo.org will no longer be updated and the off-line downloads are no longer available. The version at Pacman's Portal will, however, continue to be updated and it's recommended that you refer to that site for more up to date information. The reason for this change in policy cannot be disclosed at this time but I hope you have enjoyed using the database here and thank you for your support and kind comments over the years.
Paul Collins
If you're frustrated with the time it takes your Windows 7/Vista/XP PC to boot and then it seems to be running slowly you may have too many programs running at start-up - and you have come to the right place to identify them. This is the original startup programs (as opposed to processes/tasks) list - one of the most accurate and comprehensive. Services are not included - see below. The database is mirrored in a slightly different format at Pacman's Portal.
"Name or Startup Item" in the table below refers to how an entry is displayed in MSConfig, Windows Defender or the registry "Run" keys. "Command or Data" refers to the program the entry runs. For further information on this and how to identify and disable startup programs you may want to also visit this page.
For further information on random startup entries please visit the Startups Info page.
Last update :- 29th July, 2011
24133 items listed
"Status" key:
| Name or Startup Item | Status | Command or Data | Description | Tested? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC Protection Center | X | PcProtection.exe | PC Protection Center 2008 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| PC Scout | X | pcscout.exe | PC Scout rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| PC Security 2009 | X | PC_Security2009.exe | PC Security 2009 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| PC SpeedScan Pro | N | PCSpeedScan.exe | Ascentive PC SpeedScan Pro registry optimizer - not recommended, see here and here | No |
| PC Sync | N | PCSync2.exe | System Tray access to PC Sync for both Nokia and Samsung - which allow you to synchronise contacts, calendar/to-do items, notes, and e-mails between your mobile device and your PC Personal Information Manager (PIM). Available via the main Nokia PC Suite or SAMSUNG PC Studio interfaces | Yes |
| PC-Antispy | X | PC-Antispy.exe | PC-Antispy rogue spyware remover - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| PC-Antispyware | X | PC-Antispyware.exe | PC-AntiSpyware rogue spyware remover - not recommended | No |
| PC-Checkup | X | PCCheckUp.exe | Installed by SpeedItUp without permission, along with Search Defender - which is detected by DrWeb as the STARTPAGE.ORIGIN TROJAN! | No |
| PC-Cleaner | X | PC-Cleaner.exe | PC-Cleaner rogue security software - not recommended | No |
| PC2011 | X | PC2011.exe | PC Security 2011 rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| PCAntiMalware | X | pcam.exe | PCAntiMalware rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| PCAntiVirusPro | X | pgs.exe | PCAntiVirusPro rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here. A member of the AVSystemCare family | No |
| pcAnywhere Agent | U | pcamgt.exe | Part of pcAnywhere 9.0 or later. This process listens for incoming PC Anywhere connections if your PC is configured as a PC Anywhere host | No |
| PCBG | Y | PCBODYGUARD.EXE | PC Bodyguard from Calluna - protects system files and settings from being deleted, modified, etc | No |
| PCBODYGUARD | Y | PCBODYGUARD.EXE | PC Bodyguard from Calluna - protects system files and settings from being deleted, modified, etc | No |
| PcBoost | U | PcBoost.exe | PCBoost from PGWARE, LLC increases computer performance by allocating higher portions of CPU power to active applications and games | No |
| PCCClient.exe | Y | PCCClient.exe | Part of Trend Micro web-security products - PC-cillin 2002-2003 and Virus Buster 2001-2003 | No |
| pccguide.exe | Y | pccguide.exe | Part of Trend Micro web-security products - Internet Security 2005-2007, PC-cillin 2002-2004 and Virus Buster 2001-2007 | No |
| PCCIOMON.exe | Y | PCCIOMON.exe | Part of Trend Micro web-security products - PC-cillin 2000, 2002-2003 and Virus Buster 2001-2004. This is the virus scanner | No |
| PCClient.exe | Y | PCClient.exe | Part of Trend Micro web-security products - PC-cillin 2004 and Virus Buster 2004 | No |
| PccPfw | Y | PccPfw.exe | Part of Trend Micro web-security products - PC-cillin 2002-2003 and Virus Buster 2002-2004. This is the firewall | No |
| PcCtlCom | Y | PCCTLCOM.EXE | Part of Trend Micro web-security products - Internet Security 2005-2006 and Virus Buster 2005-2006 | No |
| PcEye | U | pceye.exe | PCEye 2000 - parental control utility | No |
| PCHbutton | N | PCHbutton.exe | Used by HP Instant Support | No |
| PCHDPlayer | X | PCHDPlayer.exe | StripDance.c adult content tool | No |
| PCHealth | N | pchschd.exe | This is a "scheduler" and does not turn off PC Health. For more information refer here | No |
| PCIMODEM | ? | pcimodem.exe | Associated with Lucent based Aztech MDP7800-U PCI modems. Is it required? | No |
| PCLEPCI | U | ppe.exe | Pinnacle Systems PCI Performance Enhancer. "This tool helps to increase the PCI Busmaster performance of all Pinnacle PCI boards." | No |
| PClK | X | PClK.exe | Added by the LEGMIR-BL TROJAN! | No |
| PCLock | X | PCLockUpdate.exe | Added by the MDROP-CYT TROJAN! | No |
| PCMedic | X | PCMedic.exe | PCMedic rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here | No |
| PCMM2007RT | X | pcmm2007.exe | PC MightyMax 2007 rogue security software - not recommended, see here | No |
| PCMMediaSharing | ? | PCMMediaSharing.exe | Part of Acer HomeMedia Connect, which is part of Acer Arcade Live. What does it do and is it required? | No |
| PCMMRealtime | X | pcmm.exe | PC MightyMax rogue security software - not recommended, see here | No |
| pcmn891.exe | U | pcmn891.exe | FreeKeyLogger surveillance software. Uninstall this software unless you put it there yourself | No |
| PCPerf | U | pcperf.exe | PC Accelerator 2007 from DefendGate Inc. "Powerful all-in-one PC performance and Internet acceleration solution designed to help increase your system and online performance and security" | No |
| PCPitStopEraser | U | PCPitStopErase.exe | Scheduler for an earlier release of Erase from PC Pitstop LLC - which "protects your privacy by removing personal information stored on your computer. Safely and easily removes traces of your computing and Internet activities" | No |
| PCPOptimize | U | PCPOptimize.exe | Scheduler for an older version of the Optimize system optimization utility from PC Pitstop LLC | No |
| PCPrivacyCleaner | X | pcpc.exe | PCPrivacyCleaner rogue privacy tool - not recommended | No |
| PCprotectar.exe | X | PCprotectar.exe | PCprotectar rogue security software - not recommended. A member of the AntiAID family | No |
| pcqmqgn.exe | ? | pcqmqgn.exe | ?? | No |
| PCRecSA | U | PCRecSA.exe | Part of the IBM/XPoint Rapid Restore backup utility. If you choose, you can use it to create a "clean" backup of your hard drive. The process involves the software partitioning your hard drive, making a compressed image of the working drive which will then allow you to revert to that should you need to | No |
| PcSecureNet | X | PcSecureNet.exe | PcSecureNet rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here. A member of the AntiAID family | No |
| PCSecureSystem | X | pgs.exe | PCSecureSystem rogue security software - not recommended. A member of the AVSystemCare family | No |
| PcsProtector | X | PcsProtector.exe | PcsProtector rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here. A member of the AntiAID family | No |
| PcsSecure | X | PcsSecure.exe | PcsSecure rogue security software - not recommended, removal instructions here. A member of the AntiAID family | No |
| PCStart | N | Pcm25.exe | Runs as part of PCMonitor which is a program for monitoring your activity on your system. It makes screen dumps and key logging. It can hang-up your system because the screen dump page gets VERY big | No |
| PCSuite | N | PCSuite.exe | System Tray access to Nokia PC Suite and SAMSUNG PC Studio (by Nokia) - free PC software product that allows you to connect your mobile device to a PC and access mobile content as if the device and the PC were one. This allows you (amongst other options) to backup your devices contents to your PC, use it to connect to the internet, transfer files and synchronize contacts, etc. Available from the start menu | Yes |
| Pcsv | X | pcsvc.exe | Delfin PromulGate adware. The most common filename is "pcsvc.exe" | No |
| PcSync | X | PcSync.exe | Added by the RBOT-XJ WORM! Note - do not confuse with the Nokia application described here | No |
Notes & Warnings
Variables:
DISCLAIMER: It is assumed that users are familiar with the operating system they are using and comfortable with making the suggested changes. We will not be held responsible if changes you make cause a system failure.
WARNING: This is NOT a database of tasks/processes taken from Task Manager or the Close Program window (CTRL+ALT+DEL) but a database of startup applications, although you will find some of them listed via this method. Pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL identifies programs that are currently running - not necessarily at startup. For a list of tasks/processes you should try the Process Library from Uniblue, the list at PC Pitstop or one of the many others now available. Therefore, before ending a task/process via CTRL+ALT+DEL just because it has an "X" recommendation, please check whether it's in MSConfig or the registry first. An example would be "svchost.exe" - which doesn't appear in either under normal conditions but does via CTRL+ALT+DEL. If in doubt, don't do anything.
To avoid the database becoming too large, all virus entries are only shown using the registry version which is common to all Windows versions. Otherwise there would be multiple entries for popular filenames that viruses often use - such as "svchost" above for example. Multiple viruses can also use the same startup entries, in this case only those with significant differences (such as file location) are repeated in this database.
NOTE: There are a number of virus and malware entries listed in this database where specific removal instructions haven't been given. If this is the case then you could try ComboFix, a program written by sUBs that can remove many different types of Trojans and Worms. See here for a tutorial on how to use the program
IMPORTANT: A number of entries are repeated due to the way that different operating systems display startup items. For example, WinMe lists "POPROXY.EXE" as "Norton eMail Protect" in both MSCONFIG and the registry whereas WinXP lists it as "Poproxy" in MSCONFIG and "Norton eMail Protect" in the registry.
SERVICES: "Services" from the NT/2K/XP/Vista/7 operating systems are not included. I fully understand that some programs with these OS's use "Services" as an alternative to load their component parts at startup but these are handled in a different way. We recommend you try BlackViper for information on services for the relevant operating systems.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
If you're looking for a startup manager then why not try Spybot - Search & Destroy (by Safer Networking Ltd) as the startup programs section (select the Advanced mode) includes descriptions from this database. You might also want to try their RunAlyzer and FileAlyzer tools.
As there are more than 10,000 entries in this database related to viruses, trojans, worms and other malware we recommend you use a quality internet security package. Which ever you choose, keep it updated.
Copyright
Presentation, format & comments Copyright © 2001 - 2011 Pacman's Portal
Portions Copyright © Peter Forrest, Denny Denham, Sylvain Prevost, Tony Klein, CastleCops & Bleeping Computer
Database creation and support by Patrick Kolla
Software support by John Mayer
All rights reserved